Parent/Guardian Concern Resolution Processes

Step 1- Teacher
Where a parent/guardian has a concern about his/her child’s classroom or program, he/she shall address the concern with the child’s teacher at a mutually convenient time.

Step 2- Principal/Supervisor
If the parent/guardian and the teacher are not able to resolve the concern, the concern shall be discussed with the school principal or designate. Concerns regarding instructional materials should begin with the school principal.

Step 3- School Supervisor
If the concern is still unresolved, the parent/guardian shall contact the school superintendent.

Step 4- Director
If the concern is not settled at the Superintendent's level, the parent/guardian shall contact the Director of Education.

Trustees are advocates of the system and the process to resolve concerns. Parents and guardians may contact trustees at any time, and trustees will assist by directing the individual to the appropriate staff member.

School councils are advocates of the schools and advise principals on matters such as the school curriculum and code of conduct. School councils will not act on individual parent/guardian-teacher-student issues, and instead will refer these matters to the school principal.

Suspension Appeals – as per Policy 4.16, Safe Schools
Where a student’s parent/guardian disagrees with the decision of a principal to suspend the student that student’s parent/guardian may appeal the principal’s decision to suspend, in accordance with the Human Rights Code, the Board’s Student Discipline Procedure, specifically, Suspension Appeal Guidelines.

Where a student, if 18 or older or 16 or 17 and has removed him/herself from parental control, disagrees with a principal’s decision to suspend him or her, the student may appeal the principal’s decision to suspend, in accordance with the Human Rights Code, the Board’s Student Discipline Procedure, specifically, Suspension Appeal Guidelines.

Employee Concern Resolution Processes

Employees are encouraged to discuss with their immediate supervisor (assistant manager/manager, principal/vice principal) with respect to any work-related concerns. If this step does not resolve the concern, employees are encouraged to discuss the concern with the supervisory officer that oversees that department/school of the Board.

Unionized employees can access the grievance procedure for any concerns related to the application of the collective agreement, which includes working conditions, discipline, harassment, duty to accommodate, hiring processes, granting of leaves, etc. An employee who suffers adverse pay consequences due to inclement weather can appeal the decision as per Procedure 3.20 Inclement Weather - Staff, section 5:

Employee health and safety concerns are per the Ontario Occupation Health and Safety Act
Concerns are to be brought to the attention of the supervisor. As well, employees shall report to his or her employer or supervisor the absence of or defect in any equipment or protective device of which the worker is aware and which may endanger himself, herself or another worker, and report to his or her employer or supervisor any contravention of this Ontario Occupation Health and Safety Act or the regulations, or the existence of any hazard of which he or she knows as per the Act. Employees who have concerns in the workplace may also contact the Ministry of Labor to file a complaint.

Concerns regarding Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy – as per Policy 2.80
You have the right to appeal any decision made by a government organization in regard to your request for access to information. An appeal must be made within 30 days of the government organization making its decision. To appeal, write a letter to the Registrar at the IPC, describing why you are not satisfied with the government organization's decision. Alternatively, you may wish to use our Appeal Form. This form must be completed and mailed to the Registrar at the IPC at the address on the form. There is a $25 appeal fee when the information sought is general information. (The appeal fee is $10 when the information sought is personal information.) For more information on how to file an appeal, please refer to our brochure, The Appeal Process and Ontario's Information and Privacy Commissioner.